The Gisborne Times SATURDAY, MONDAY 7, 1936. IS IT THE LEAGUE’S LAST CHANGE TO MAKE GOOD?

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12804, 7 March 1936, Page 4

The Gisborne Times SATURDAY, MONDAY 7, 1936. IS IT THE LEAGUE’S LAST CHANGE TO MAKE GOOD?

There is abundant evidence that the embassies in Europe are working feverishly to prevent the extension of the East African quarrel into another widespread conflagration. Again, there is. talk of trying to bring Italy and Ethiopia together to discuss peace terms'. Haile Selassie has replied that he is willing to’ ensider peace terms if they are based within the framework of the League. What, ho lias' at the back of his mind is that’ltaly shall he deprived of the power to dictate her own'terms. Signor Mussolini is apparently in a truculent mood.' The recent 'ltalian victories in Ethiopia have 6ertainiy not ’improved" tho international situation, ’if Abyssinia’s" resistance were to ’ collapse-fit might, ihejeed, make the position even more difficult. Unquestionably, a section of the members of the League of . Nations would

be prepared to jettison their pledges if it would bring' about harmony in llurope.’ This" contention applies', of ’course') in "particular : to France, Austria and Hungary! The fate of the League is,' however, in the balance. If disunity amongst its members shorild continue, or if, as’a body, it. should invito 'Ethiopia to make ,u;ndue " 1 territorial : concessions 'to Italy (her aggressor) the League will prove a'n liifcrly discredited institution. The position may be prit very concisely: Italy erred' by : attacking Ethiopia arid alio has added to her error 'by occupying more and more of Ethiopia’s territory. It is unquestionably the case that ivith each’''succeeding week of the struggle she has made it more difficult Tor 'the League to carry out its" principles. Italy would never have proceeded with her wretched venture if she had not liad good reasons for believing that the League would lib betrayed by some of its metre important members. What Italy has shown is that, if she is permitted to get her own vicious way, it would pay' any other nation openly to defy 'the Longue. It is,' 'therefore, most regrettable, that some ' of the larger' members of the League are once' again busy trying to l secure for Italy gains in East Africa lo which she is not entitled. Successful Lerigue intervention on behalf of Ethiopia would seem to have become a more slender possibility the further the struggle has gorie. Italy to-day holds a fair slice of Ethiopia and will bo most reluctant to disgorge any of it. If the League had taken a firm stand at the outset,' the position would have been quite different. As far as can be gathered, Haile Selassie is, seemingly, still' expecting League help in the shape of imposition of further embargoes upon Italy. The fact remains that, meantime, Ethiopia’s hardest task is to make good on the fields of battle. What her Emperor has most to fear is that, if Ethiopia should be completely crushed, the luke-warm section of the League will at once display less and less sympathy with his people. It is not going tod far to say that tlie fate of Ethiopia rests chiefly in the hands of Britain. If she had at the outset warned Italy to desist from war on Ethiopia—just as she warned Germany in 1914 to vacate Belgium—loyal League • colleagues would at once have rallied to help her. Instead she has. so far, preferred to dilly-dally under the pretext that there must be complete collective action on the part of fbe League. The next week or two should, however, try out the League and it will require to stand or fall by the decisions that it may reach.